Matrix drill bits and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. A drill bit having a matrix bit body comprising:
- a plurality of cutting elements disposed at selected locations on exterior portions of the matrix bit body;
at least a first matrix material and a second matrix material with the first matrix material having increased resistance to impact as compared with the second matrix material;
the first matrix material forming exterior portions of the matrix bit body associated with engaging and removing formation materials from a wellbore;
the second matrix material forming interior portions of the matrix bit body which are generally not associated with engaging and removing formation materials from a wellbore; and
the second matrix material operable to improve infiltration of a hot, liquid binder material throughout the first matrix material to minimize incomplete infiltration of the first matrix material by the hot, liquid binder material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A matrix drill bit and method of manufacturing a matrix bit body from a composite of matrix materials is disclosed. Two or more different types of matrix materials may be used to form a composite matrix bit body. A first matrix material may be selected to provide optimum fracture resistance (toughness) and optimum erosion, abrasion and wear resistance for portions of a matrix bit body such as cutter sockets, cutting structures, blades, junk slots and other portions of the bit body associated with engaging and removing formation materials. A second matrix material may be selected to provide desired infiltration of hot, liquid binder material with the first matrix material to form a solid, coherent, composite matrix bit body.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A drill bit having a matrix bit body comprising:
-
a plurality of cutting elements disposed at selected locations on exterior portions of the matrix bit body;
at least a first matrix material and a second matrix material with the first matrix material having increased resistance to impact as compared with the second matrix material;
the first matrix material forming exterior portions of the matrix bit body associated with engaging and removing formation materials from a wellbore;
the second matrix material forming interior portions of the matrix bit body which are generally not associated with engaging and removing formation materials from a wellbore; and
the second matrix material operable to improve infiltration of a hot, liquid binder material throughout the first matrix material to minimize incomplete infiltration of the first matrix material by the hot, liquid binder material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A drill bit having a composite matrix bit body comprising:
-
a plurality of cutting elements disposed at select locations on exterior portions of the bit body;
the composite matrix bit body having at least a first zone and a second zone disposed adjacent to each other;
the first zone formed at least in part by hard particles comprising cemented carbides and at least one binder material selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, iron or alloys of these elements; and
the second zone formed at least in part from hard particles selected from the group consisting of macrocrystalline tungsten carbides and cast carbides; and
the second zone formed by the same binder material as the first zone. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of making a matrix drill bit comprising:
-
placing at least a first layer of a first matrix material selected from the group consisting of cemented carbides and spherical carbides in a matrix bit body mold;
placing a hollow metal blank in the mold;
placing at least a second layer of a second matrix material selected from the group consisting of macrocrystalline tungsten carbide and cast carbide in the mold;
placing a binder material in the mold with the binder material proximate the second layer of matrix material and the hollow metal blank;
heating the mold and the materials disposed therein in a furnace to a selected temperature to allow the binder material to melt and to infiltrate the second matrix material and the first matrix material with hot, liquid binder material;
starting solidification of the hot, liquid binder material with the first matrix material before the hot, liquid binder material solidifies with the second matrix material; and
cooling the mold and materials disposed therein to form a coherent composite matrix bit body securely engaged with the hollow metal blank. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification